Windshield wiper



Nov. 20, 1951 w. P. orzARowsKl WINDSHIELD WIPER Filed May 1'8, 1948 TTORNE Y INVENToR. i MILTER P ZARDWSKI BY Q sa 452 k45 5a 53 55 60 5657 l: 11 q'/3420 /7 Patented` Nov. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y WINDSHIELD WIPER Walter P. Ozarowski, Devon, Conn.

Application May 18, 1948, Serial No. 27,802

6 Claims. (Cl. 155-253) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in windshield wipers.

An object of the invention is to provide a windshield wiper including an effective but simple means for mounting the wiper for operation by any of the usual motive means and whereby the wiper may be readily removed for replacement or repair.

Another object is to provide a windshield wiper including improved structure whereby the wiper blade is biased against the windshield to be wiped and including a simple structural arrangement whereby the pressure of the blade against the windshield may be readily adjusted.

A further object is to provide an improved but simple and inexpensive means whereby the wiper blade of a windshield wiper may be easily and conveniently mounted on or removed from the actuating arm of the wiper.

An additional object is to provide a windshield wiper blade including improved means for use in mounting such blade on the actuating arm of a windshield wiper.

Yet another object is to provide a windshield wiper including means whereby the wiper may be easily mounted and dismounted and also in cluding a pivoted hood or cover means movable to a position at least partly enclosing the mounting means and serving to assist in maintaining it effective and to an inoperative position whereby the wiper may be readily dismounted from a vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the windshield wiper of the invention shown as mounted for the wiping of a windshield, but a portion ci which is illustrated;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the upper mounting portion of the wiper, the hood being in an open position Fig. 3 is an exploded view showing various parts of the wiper;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the inner side of the wiper arm;

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the wiper blade structure and the wiper arm, the parts being in perspective; and

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of an adapter em. ployed when the drive shaft of the windshield wiper is threaded.

Referring in detail to the drawing, at I0 is generally indicated a portion of a motor vehicle mounting the windshield (not shown) and a windshield wiper driving mechanism (not shown) the shaft II of the latter of which is (JS--` cillated when said mechanism is in use. My improved windshield wiper, generally designated I2, is mounted to be driven by the shaft I I of any usual driving mechanism (not shown).

My improved wiper I2 includes an elongated blade driving arm I3, a coupling part I4 to which the arm I3 is connected and by which the arm I 3 is given a back and forth swinging movement, a hood I 5 and a wiper blade generally designated I6. The arm I3 is preferably of `a transparent synthetic resin or the like molded into the desired shape and rigid with said arm and extend-` ing beyond the upper end thereof is a rod I'I. Where the arm I3 is of a molded plastic or the like, the rod I'I may be molded right into the arm but extends through the upper end of the latter and beyond the arm has its end portion bent to provide a portion I8 extending transversely or laterally or crosswise of the arm.

Mounted on the outer side of the upper portion of the arm I3 is a flat spring device I 9 having its lower portion rigidly secured to the arm as by screws 20 and having its upper portion extending a considerable distance beyond the bent end I8 of the rod I'I and slightly oifset or inclined. inwardly as at 2|. The bent end portion I8 of the rod I'I passes through an opening 22 extending transversely through the solid outer end portion of the coupling part I4. In this way, the arm I3 is mounted on the part I4 for pivotal movement relative thereto in one plane but is fixed to the part to impart back and forth pendulum-like swinging movement to the arm I3 when the part I4 is oscillated due to its connection with the shaft II, all as will appear..

When the bent end I8 of the rod is extended through the opening 22 in the coupling part, it is clear that the fiat spring means I9 is extendfing across and above the outer end of said coupling part. Opening through the inner end of the coupling part I4 is a socket 23 of a diameter to conveniently receive the shaft II. Extending laterally or radially from the inner portion of the coupling is a tubular means 24 through which extends a plunger 25 having an inner end spring 28 engages. Y will be regulated by threading the plug 23V more portion 26 designed to extend transversely across the socket 23 and through a transverse hole in the received end portion of the shaft I I whereby to key the part I4 to said shaft for oscillating movement with the latter.

Outwardly of the portion 26, the plunger is provided with a collar 21 and a coil spring 28 or less into the extension 24. c c y c r Preferably, the plunger includes an outer button-like head portion 3! for use in manually manipulating the plunger to withdraw its portion 2.6 froma position extending transversely of*` the socket 23 and through the mentioned opening in the shaft Il whereby the windshield wiper may-.be removed from said shaft. V'I'hen to again mount the wiper on the shaft, the plunger is drawnoutwardlycand coupling I4 slipped over the shaftv toalign the inner end of the plunger wthdthe mentioned hole through shaft II after which; on. release of .theplungen spring 28 will functionto shift the plunger. inwardly to have it pass through the shaft andkey the coupling tothelatter. i.

. On the upper side of the coupling part and,

straddles the outer end portion of the coupling I4, lateral movement of the arm I3 with respect to the coupling, in the direction of the length of the bent end I3 of the rod I1, is prevented so that said rod portion may not move out of the opening 22 and the entire wiper arm and its parts are maintained operatively mounted on and connected with the coupling I4. The hood may be swung to an fopen position as suggested in Fig. 2'

and at this time it will be seen that by moving arm I3 laterally in the direction of the length ofl the bent end I8 of the rod I1, such bent end may berwithdrawn from the opening 22 and the Wiper arm and its parts detached from the coupling part I4. This may be for repair or replacement of the removed wiper by another.

if desired, integral therewith is a barrel-or tubular partv 3l Vmounting a plunger 32 for. movement through its outer end. Within said barrel isna coil spring 33 bearing at its forward end against the plunger and atits inner end against a plug. 34 threaded into .the inner end of the barrel.mC learly,'the spring 3,3 constantly tends to .keep theplunger projected through `the forward end of the barrel and it willalso be clear that the strength Vof the spring maybe varied byadjusting theplug 34 more or less into the barrel.

Atits forward end the plunger 32 bears against the-` inner side of the inwardly offset upper end portion 2 I ofthe flat spring means I9. Thus, it will be understood that when the wiper is mounted on the shaftV II, the spring pressed plunger engaging the iiat spring I9 tends to rock the driving arm I3 of the plunger about the pivotal connection, formed by 'the bent end I8 of the rod and the opening 22 Vof the coupling, in a direction Ato .have the wiper blade IS pressed against the windshield. The pressure of the blade on the windshield may be varied or adjusted byV longitudinally of the barrel 3 I. Tocover and protect and partly conceal some .of the. above described mechanism, the hood I 5 is provided. This hood is also preferably of a transparent plastic or resin and in transverse section issomewhatVU-sha'ped whereby it is open at its inner side,and includesopposite side walls and an outer wall 35 and an upper end wall 35. Hood I5 is pivotally mounted on the arrn I3 as by a screw 31, the shank of which is threaded into a socket 31a in the arm. The hood is of a length and of a width so that in its closed position, as in AFig. 1 it receives the upper outer end portionof the arm I 3 and the iiat spring means I9, rod I1, a portion of the coupling I4 and of the plunger 32. Thus', these parts are concealed and are somewhat protected.

Additionally. since the hood in this pQSliqn varying or adjusting the position of the plug 34 To maintain the hood in its closed position of Fig. -1, arm I3 is shown as mounting a spring pressed pin 38 which may engage in a dimple or recess 39 inthe inner surfacerof a side wall of the hood when the latter is in a closed position.

The described means, is not intended as a lock but is merely intended as a means to prevent casual opening of the hood. or casual movement ofthe Vhood to or toward the position of Fig. V2.1

The wiper blade I6 comprisesa back 40 of a stiff material. This back may be and preferably is formed of asuitable transparent plastic and,

as shown, comprises an elongated body gener. ally rectangular in transverse section and having.

a slot4I opening through one longitudinal edge. A squeegee 42 is mounted inA therchannel 4I and extends .outwardly therefrom and is alsoV elongated and of substantially the length of the back 4o. of a number of exible rubber.' strips of. graduated widths with the strip of the greatest width comprising the center strip. Y

A saddle-like. construction. .43 comprising a channel member straddles the Ymid portionof the the outer Wall of the saddle-.like device and.

threaded into sockets 50 in the block.

Outwardlyv or above the block or body 41, `the means 4S includes an arcuate portion 5I having flat sides from which project studs or journal elements 52. VSuch studs or journal elements 52 are. in alignment and may comprise portions ofthe same rodl or bar or may be separate pieces suitablyianchored. From. the above, it will be- 'seen that the assembled blade I6 comprises the back 4I! carrying the squeegee Vand the. saddlelike device 43 secured to the back and in turn mounting the means 46. l

AInits inner side,t toward its lower end, the drive bar I3 is provided with a slot..53 which opens'through the -lower end of the bar. Disposed on the lands or bar portions at each-side of said slot are spring fingers 54 and.55. These fingers are secured in place as by screws Y56 pass-A ing through the upper end portions of the iingers and. preferably the ngers .also have their extreme upper end portions bentuponcthemselves and imbedded in the stock of thebar I3,as at51..

The iingers are of spring stock and clearly their portions below the screws 56 may flex lwith respectl to the bar ln The lower ends jor the.

This squeegee, as shown, is made up wardly as at 58'. The above described lands or the bar portions at the respective sides of the slot 53 are intermediate their ends provided with arcuate depressions or recesses v59 and opposite such depressions or recesses, theiingers 54 and 55 are outwardly offset, also in arcuate form, as at 60.

To assemble the wiper blade lIIS on the arm I3, the studs or journals 52 are brought under the outturned ends 58 of the fingers' 54 and 55 with the arcuate portion of the means 46 aligned with the open end of the slot or groove or channel 53. `Then by relative longitudinal movement of the wiper and the bar I3 toward one another, the studs or journals 52 are carried under the spring fingers 54 and 55 and snap into the recesses 59 with their outer` sides engaged by the offset portions 6I] of the fingers. In this waythe wiper is secured to the bar I3 so as not to casually separate from the latter. However, 'the wiper may have a rocking movement on the journals or studs 52. Nevertheless, with the flat sided arcuate portion 5I of the means 45 between the flat sides of the groove or channel 53, lateral movement of the wiper blade relative to the arm I3 is impossible. i

Therefore, it will be clear that as the arm I3 is swung back and forthin a back and forth pendulum-like swinging movement, on oscillation of the coupling I4, a similar movement will be imparted to the wiper blade I6. The spring pressed plunger 32 bearing against the inwardly offset end portion of the flat spring member I9, there is a tendency for the wiper arm I3 to rock on its pivotal connection with the coupling I4 whereby to thrust the squeegee 42 of the wiper blade against the Windshield.

The described pivotal connection between the arm and the coupling is the resultof the offset end portion I8 of the bar I1 passing through the opening 22 in the outer end portion ofthe coupling. When the wiper blade I6 is no longer fully useful, it may be detached from the arm I3 by a downward pull on the wiper blade or by pressure on the blade in the direction of its length. This forces the studs or pins 52 outwardly beneath the fingers 54 and 55 with the arcuate portion 5I of the means 46 passing downwardly through the groove or channel 53. Thus, it will be seen that the wiper blade is easily mounted on the arm I3 and is easily removed therefrom for replacement or the like.

Where the windshield wiper motor or motive means has a threaded shaft of smaller diameter than the shaft II, or of any other diameter, an adaptor is threaded onto said shaft and then the coupling I4 mounted on said adaptor. Such an adaptor is shown in Fig. 6 and the same comprises a transversely circular bar portion 6I having a threaded socket 62 opening through one end to be threaded onto a threaded drive shaft. This body 6I may be provided with flats 63 to be engaged by a suitable wrench or the like for tightening the coupling on the drive shaft.

VIntermediate its ends, adaptor or body 6I is provided with a transverse opening 64 through which the locking portion 21S of the spring pressed plunger 25 may pass for keying the coupling I4 to the adaptor after the latter has been threaded onto a drive shaft. i Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a windshield wiper, a drive arm, a coupling part for connection to a driving mechanism, a rod rigid with and projecting from one end of said arm and pivotally'mounted' on saidn coupling for a back and forth pendulum-like swinging movement by the coupling as the latter is oscillated by a driving mechanism and for pivotal movement relative to said coupling in a plane substantially normal to the plane'of such back and forth swinging movement, a flat spring means fixed to said arm and extending beyond the upper end of said rod and above the outer end of said coupling part, and a spring pressed plunger at the upper side of said coupling part and bearing on the inner side of the upper end portion of said fiat spring means above said coupling part for biasing said rod on said pivotal mounting and thereby biasing said drive arm for applying through said drive arm a pressure to a blade carried by the lower end portion thereof.

2. In a windshield wiper, a drive arm, a coupling part for connection to a driving mechanism, a rod rigid with and projecting from one end of said arm and pivotally mounted on said coupling for a back and forth pendulum-like swinging movement by the coupling as the latter is oscillated by a driving mechanism and for pivotal movement relative thereto in a plane normal to the plane of such back and forth pendulum-like swinging movement, a fiat spring means fixed to said arm and extending beyond the upper end of said rod across and above the outer end of said coupling part, a spring pressed plunger at the upper side of said coupling part and bearing on the inner side of the upper end portion of said flat spring means above said coupling part for biasing said rod on said pivotal mount and thereby biasing said drive arm for applying through said drive arm a pressure to a blade carried by the lower end portion thereof, and manually adjustable means for varying the pressure of the spring of said spring pressed plunger for varying the pressure applied to the wiper blade through said drive arm.

3. In a windshield wiper, a drive arm, a couf pling part for connection to a driving mechanism,

a rod rigid with and projecting from one end of said arm and pivotally mounted on said coupling whereby the arm is pivoted on the coupling but for a back and forth pendulum-like swinging movement by the coupling as the latter is oscillated by a driving mechanism and for pivotal movement relative thereto in a plane substantially normal to the plane of such back and vforth pendulum-like swinging movement, a ilat spring means extending beyond said end of said arm and across the outer end of said coupling part, a spring pressed plunger bearing on the inner side of the upper end portion of said fiat spring means above said coupling part for biasing said rod on said pivotal mount and thereby biasing said drive arm for applying through said drive arm a pressure to a blade carried by the lower end portion thereof, a hood, said hood open at its inner side and including opposite side walls, said hood of a length and Width to receive the upper portion of said arm and said flat spring means and rod and the outer end of said spring pressed plunger, and means pivotally mounting said hood on said arm below the upper end thereof for pivotal movement from a position receiving said parts to a position exposing said parts.

4, In a windshield wiper, a drive arm, a coupling part for connection to a driving mechanism, a rod rigid with and projecting from the upper end of said arm, said rod having its upper end Y pling part;

portion bent into substantiallyv right-angular re-1 lation with said "arm and passing through said coupling part whereby the arm is pivotally mounted on the coupling for movement relative thereto in one direction but for a back and forth pendulum-like swinging movement therewith in a direction at right angles to said direction as the coupling is oscillated by a driving mechanism, a

hood mounted on said arm below the upper end thereof, said hood open at its inner side and including opposite. side walls, said hood of a length and lwidth to receive the upper outer end portion of said drive arm and said rod and the portion Vofthe coupling through which the bent end of theV rod extends whereby to prevent casual movement of such bent end out of said couplingV part, and means pivotally mounting said hood on said Varm below the upper end thereof for swinging movement from a position receiving said parts and preventing casual movement of such bent end out of said coupling part to a position exposing said parts to permit of movement of the-bent end of the rod out of the opening through the cou- 5. In a windshield wiper, ay drive arm, a coupling part for connection to a driving mechanism, ay rod rigid with and projecting from the upper end of said arm, said rod having its upper end portion bent into substantially right-angular relation with said armand passing through said coupling whereby the arm is pivotally mounted on the coupling for movement relative thereto in one direction but for a back and forth pendulumlike swinging movement therewith in a direction at right angles to said direction as the coupling part is oscillated by a driving mechanism, a at spring means xed to said drive arm and extending beyond the upper end thereof and across the outer end of said coupling part, a Spring pressedl plunger on the upper side of said coupling part and engaging against the inner side of the upper end portion of said Hat spring means for applying therethrough and through said drive arm a pressure to a blade carried by the lower end portion of the latter, a hood mounted on said drive .arm

below said upper end thereof, said hood'open at its inner side and including opposite side walls,

Vsaid hood of a length andl width to yreceive the upper outer portion of said arm and said flat spring means and rod and the outer end of said. spring pressed plunger whereby to conceal said parts and prevent movement of the bent end of said rod from the opening in said coupling part, and means pivotally mounting said hood on said arm below the upper end thereof for swinging movement from a position receiving said parts and preventing movement of such bent end of the rod out of the opening in said couplingpart to a position exposing said parts.

6. In a lwindshield wiper, a drive arm, a coupling part for connection to a driving mechanism, means at the upper end of said arms for pivotally mounting the latter on the coupling part for swinging movement relativethereto in one direction but for a back and forth pendulum-like swinging movement therewith in a direction at right angles to said direction as the coupling is oscillated by a driving mechanism, said means releasably engagingV said coupling part, ahood open at its inner side and including opposite side walls and an outer wall, said'hood of a length f and widthA to receive the upper outer portion of REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the le of this patent:`

Y Vurnas-:n3 STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,658,312 Trimble Feb. 7, 1928 1,920,145 Hueber July 25, 1933 2,025,888 Olivero Dec. 31, 1935 2,376,012 Sacchini May 15, 1945 2,443,113 Nesson June 8, 19'48 

